Display device



. J. RAucH 1,988,917

DISPLAYDEVIGE- Filed sept. 2e, 1932 a'sheetssheet 1 mlm Jan. 22, 1935. E'. J, RAUCH 1,988,917

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 26, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 22, 1935.

E. J. RAUcH DISPLAY DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 26, 1932 Q, l, b'w/W' Patented Jan. Z2, 1935 UNITED s'rxras DISPLAY DEVICE v Corporation, St. Missouri Application 'september 26, 1932, serial Nassizi 2 claims. (orale-135) This invention relates to display devices.

An object of this invention is to provide a device having a housing with a window, and a number of movable trays on the interior ofthe housing so arranged that the contents of the several trays may be clearly displayed in succession before the window.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which has 'coinpensating means for preventing thetrays from swinging. u

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which has means for bringing the trays before the window and positively stopping them at the correct position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which has means for intermittently moving the trays in such a manner that a tray will be stopped before the window for an appreciable length of time before it is again moved.

Other objects will be apparent from the following detail description taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the top construction.

Fig. Il is an end elevation partly in section showing mechanism for moving the trays.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the construction shown in Fig. 4. y

Fig. 6 is a detail of the construction shown in Fig. 4 but at an angle of 90 therefrom.

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing a detail of the mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail taken at an angle of 90 from that of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a cross section showing the Window construction.

The housing includes four upright corner members 1 resting upon rollers 2. Handle bars 3 are secured on each end of the device to the corner members 1. A bottom 4 is provided in the housing and plates 5 enclose the sides and ends of the device. A roof member 6 is supported by frame members '7. Lids 8 are secured to the roof members 6 by hinges 9.

Each of the roof members 6 comprises a plate having its side edges flanged, as best shown in Fig. 3, forming a trough 10 for the collection of rain. The upper edge of each of the lids 8 has a flange 11 resting in the trough l0 and the bottom edge has a downwardly extending flange 12 which overhangs the top of the side plate 5. Thus, it will be seen that the roof of the device is rainprooi.

A window is placed in each side of the housing and includes a pane 13 of glass or other transparent material. The construction of the window frame is best shown in Fig. 9. It includes Louis, Mo., a corporation of verticali-rame members 14 having grooves -l5 adapted to vreceive the pane 13. Plates 16 are secured to the back ofthe frame members 14 by screws k17; Stripsl18, of felt or equivalent material, are preferably placed between the parie 13 and the plates 16. It will be apparent that the window frame-may be separately assembled complete andthis'assembly is secured to the deviceby screws 19', as shown in Fig. 1.

An open shelf `20 may be' Vsecured below the bottom of the housing" near the bottom of the corner members 1. f

A frame is mounted within the housing for rotation about an axis which is parallel to the windows and carries a plurality of trays 21 pivotally supported to theframe. The trays 21 inhorizontal and clude a bottom wall 22, endwalls 23 and shallow side walls 24. The trays also include a deep vertical center wall 25 which, when the tray is positioned adjacent a window, is sufficientv to block the View to the rear of the wall. l

The revolving frame includes a shaft 26, an end plate 27 secured to the shaft, and a plate 28 secured to the shaft at the end opposite the plate 27. The end plate 27 also serves the function of a ratchet wheel in a manner which will later be described in detail, and the plate 28 serves the function of a brake drum in a manner which will later be described. Each of theplates Y2'7 and 28 supports radial arms-29, equal in number to the number of trays 21,*of which therear'eifour in the specic construction illustrated'in the drawings.

Each of the center walls 25 has an end flange 30 by which it is attached to the end walls 23. A reinforcing strip 31 is welded to each end of each tray 21. A stud shaft 32 is secured at each end oi each of the trays 21 and passes through and is journalled in one of the radial members 29. Thus, each of the trays is pivotally supported in the frame and, the center of gravity of the tray being substantially below the stud shaft 32, gravity causes the tray to assume a horizontal position. A pulley or sprocket 33 is secured to the outerl end of each of the stud shafts 32 at one end of the frame only. It will thus be seen that each of the sprockets is rigid with its respective tray and turns with the tray in respect to its supporting member 29. A link belt 34 connects all of the sprockets 33, as best shown in Fig. 4, and thus pivotal movement of one tray transmits the motion to the other trays. By reason of this, the trays will not swing freely, but the inertia of one will tend to counteract the motion of the other. Also, the trays may be unevenly loaded without changing their position from the horizontal to the same degree as if this compensating means were not provided.

The end plate or ratchet wheel 27 has, in the specific embodiment disclosed, theA same number of teeth 35 as there are trays. vA reciprocating rotated by its shaft 41, which is driven through. reducing mechanism by an electric motor 42, feed wires for which extend through the bottom 4 of the housing.

It will be understood that the crank 40, the pitman 39 and the lever 36 are so arranged and proportioned that each reciprocation of the lever 36 is suilicient to move one tray 21 out of position adjacent the window 13 and its succeeding-tray to this position.

The shaft 26 is journalled in bearings supported by a pair of brackets 44, each mounted on cross members 45 and 46. The support is not illustrated with reference to cross member 46 but it is to be understood that it is similar and similarlyvarranged to that illustrated in connection with cross member 45.

The cross member 45 also supports a pair of brackets 47, to each of which is pivotally secured a brake shoe 48 adapted to bear against the periphery of the end plate 28, which is circular in form. A tension spring 49 connects the outer ends of the brake shoe 48 with each other, thus causing the brake shoe to bear against the plate or wheel 28. The purpose of these brake shoes is to prevent overrunning of the frame and to act as a detent in connection with the ratchet and paw] mechanism previously described.

rThe plate 28 supports an arm 50 which carries an idling pulley 51 adapted to bear against the link belt 34 to take up the slack in the belt.

For the purpose of quieting the operation of the device, a ber member 52 is inserted in a groove in the pawl, as best shown in Fig. 5. An edge of the member 52 extends beyond the edge of the pawl and is adapted to ride upon the periphery of the plate or wheel 27. This member also strikes the bottom of the notches 35 when the pawl is moved to that position.

It will be obvious that the lids 8 provide access to the trays for filling and emptying. It will also be obvious that two compartments are provided in each of the trays, one compartment being visi- Vmechanism for rotating the frame is such that a tray is brought to position before a window and .allowed to remain for an appreciable length of time, after which, by one movement of the lever 36, that tray is removed and another tray is placed in visible position. The compensating mechanism, comprising the sprockets 33 and the link belt 34, effectively prevents the trays from swinging, and also serves to hold the trays in an approximately horizontal position even though they may be unevenly loaded.

Parts of the invention may be used without the Whole, and various changes may be made in the details of construction Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

l. A display device comprising a housing having a pair of side walls and a pair of Aend walls, a Window in each of the side walls, a frame, means whereby said frame is adapted to rotate on an axis parallel with the windows, a plurality of trays pivotally supported on the frame parallel to the axis thereof and adapted to be positioned successively adjacent said windows, and a vertical Wall centrally located in each tray and extending upwardly a sufcient distance to block the view from the window when the tray is adjacent a window.

2. A display device comprising a. housing having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, a window in each of said side Walls, a frame mounted on an axis parallel with the windows, a plurality of trays pivotally supported on the frame parallel to the axis of the frame, and means for rotating said frame intermittently whereby the trays may be brought successively to a stop before a window and then moved therefrom, said trays each having a vertical wall centrally located therein and extending upwardly a suliicient distance to block the View when the tray is adjacent a Window.

EMIL J. RAUCH. 

